Color Blocking for a Sweet Nursery

January 19, 2021

A neglected and dark spare room is transformed into a sunny and sweet nursery with the help of KILZ® Primer and paint.  The existing deep berry-hued walls wouldn’t do for the light and bright look desired for the space, calling for KILZ 3® Premium. Formulated with a thicker high hiding formula, KILZ 3 Premium hides surface imperfections, prepares the surface better for painting and hides previous dark colors with ease.

After primer is properly applied and allowed to dry it’s time for some fun color blocking in a fresh white and happy orange hue. KILZ Tribute® in Architectural White TB-08 is used for the top half of the wall, while the same paint in Bright Marigold TB-95 brightens up the bottom. KILZ Tribute provides a durable, highly scrubbable finish, making for easy-to-clean walls ideal for children’s rooms.

Primer and paint take the room from dim to delightful, and now it’s time to decorate! A hanging chair creates a relaxing space for rocking and reading, while a sweet white crib pops against the orange paint color and ties to the white hue on the upper wall. Fanciful artwork and a colorful mobile complement the color-blocking and create a fun focal point.

In need of your own nursery makeover? Read on below for step-by-step instructions!

Step 1:

Wipe down walls with a damp cloth to ensure they are clean and free of dust. Allow to dry.

Step 2:

Tape around the baseboards and moldings with painter’s tape to ensure you don’t get primer or paint where you don’t want it!

Step 3:

To block the old dark paint color, apply 1 coat of KILZ 3® Premium (stirring thoroughly before and occasionally during use) to the walls and allow to dry. Apply primer using a brush first to “cut in” around the edges, then use a roller to fill in.

Step 4:

Once primer is dry, it’s time to tape off the color black pattern. Mark the wall where you want the top lighter color and darker bottom color to hit. Using a level and a pencil, draw a thin line to guide you. Next, apply painter’s tape to the line.

Step 5:

Starting with the lighter color for the top half of the wall (in this case KILZ Tribute® in Architectural White), apply using the same application method as the primer (using a brush first to cut in around the edges 4 to 6 feet at a time, then use a roller to fill in those sections before moving along). Remove the tape before the paint is fully dry.

Step 6:

Once the paint is dry, reapply the tape so the bottom edge is even with where the Architectural White paint ended (essentially making sure the darker bottom color meets exactly where the lighter color stopped!). Then apply KILZ Tribute® in Bright Marigold to the bottom half of the wall using the same application method as before (using a brush first to cut in around the edges 4 to 6 feet at a time, then use a roller to fill in those sections before moving along).

Step 7:

Remove the painter’s tape before the orange paint is fully dry, and you’re done!

Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products.